November Report 2006

The 20^th of October was the start of a 4 day competition at the dreaded Indalo carpet and Brian Lovett had previously entered a team of four Almeria bowlers

Dave Brannon, John Manson, Himself and Yours truly.

We reported in at the unearthly hour of 9am for a 9-30 start. I was leading with John, 2^nd, Dave 3^rd and Brian skipping, for the three days of two games of eighteen ends per day.

1^st Day

By the 12th end we were five shots down but holding three shots, Brian who was not having a great day, then bowled his last bowl.

Things have got to change I thought, they did, Brian took the Jack and gave away 2 shots. We lost and Bryan got sacked from Skipping.

I was voted as the next Skip to get us back on the right road and I would have but I couldn’t even find the map. We lost and I got the sack.

The start of the second day and were we disheartened ?

Well not until the end of the day. Two more Skips were sacked!

Were we panicking ? Yep!

Last day and we set off like a house on fire, then the fire brigade arrived and extinguished our flame. We had a good laugh and thoroughly enjoyed each others company and realised that you can’t win ‘em’ all.

One would have been nice though.

Tuesday Oct 24^th The Miraflores Cup. Open Pairs

Back on hallowed turf.

24 pairs, which included Maggie Holmes and Mick Johnson from Indalo bowling club, took part in a two day event of three, ten end games each day.

After two hard days of competition 3^rd prize was taken by Jim Anderson and Stan Brisco. 2^nd prize by, recent acquisitions from Indalo BC, Peter and Lene Steenstrup and the eventual winners were newcomer Graham White and Joe Pemberton.( makes a change from last week!)

October 27^th saw the start of the 10th Anniversary Weekend and what great weekend it turned out to be.

Friday Oct 27^th 24 teams turned out, including 10 teams from the nearby clubs of La Mata and Cabrera, to enjoy two 10 ends of bowling followed by a buffet then a further 10 ends to decide the winners.

Cabrera carried away 1^st,3^rd and 4^th prizes with a Almeria team dashing into 2^nd place with a final flourish. A great days bowling.

Saturday Oct 28^th A fun day of Triples with lots of Spot prizes.

Sunday Oct 29^th The sun was finally shining and it shone on 48 bowlers sporting our new club shirts and all sitting pretty and smiling for the photographer, together with our sponsor Phillip Gravestock of Offshore Investments.

Phillip and his lovely family stayed and watched most of the day so he must have enjoyed the bowling as much as we all did.

The dinner dance in the evening in the new Miraflores Ballroom just put the cream on a super Anniversary weekend.

Nov 7^th should have been the start of the Club Drawn Triples but like they say in Blighty “Rain stopped play”

Nov 10^th Off we go today with the first two rounds of the drawn triples, after some exciting bowling the semi final stage was reached.

The four teams vying for a place in the final were: Wynn Abrahams, Harry Dodds, & Dave Brannon, versus Patsie Tonkin, John Compton, & Joe Pemberton.

The second semi-final was between Pat Beattie, JR Barlow, & Peter Steenstrup versus Brian Tidswell, Malcolm McDonald & Val Wolverson.

Joe Pemberton’s team were very fortunate to meet a Dave Brannon team who, unfortunately didn’t play to their full potential and the result was that the Pemberton trio qualified for the final.

The second semi-final was quite a different story. At 18 ends the score was tied 17 -17. The extra end just being stolen by the Steenstrup trio.

The Final

The Steenstrup super stars shot into an early lead, 8-2, then 11-3.

Is it going to be a massacre ? Not on your life. Pemberton’s persistent party retaliated and at the 12^th end the scores were tied at 11-11.

At the 15^th end the scores were once again level 14-14 with three ends to go it was anyones game.

The 16^th end! Pemberton 1 shot, 15-14. The 17^th end! Steenstrup 2 shots,

16-15. The 18th end and Pemberton holding 2 shots until the devastating J.R. produced one of his specials, 2 inches from the Jack! A couple of near misses from the Pemberton skip and a thoroughly enjoyable game came to a close. A fine win for the Steenstrup trio, Well done everyone who took part and thanks for all the spectators.

Almeria Lawn Bowling Club

THE DIVISION OF HONOUR. 2006

The last match of the series and all to play for. A hard task, because we needed to win six of the eight games remaining.

The selection committee pondered for days to find the correct combination of players to clinch the series. At last it was decided upon.

The day arrived.

At Home: Alan Terry 17-17 at the 21st end, then a single, a two and a single, to win the first game. One up, seven to go.

Maureen Atkins and Pat Beattie have met with two Cabrera players who are really on form and struggled valiantly only to finally to be overcome. One up & one down, six to go.

The fours team of Patsie Tonkin, Ron Edens, John Compton and Roy Tonkin are just pipped at the post by two shots. Two down & one up.

The triples team of Joan Parsons, Alan Pritchard and Ian Brierley are walking on water and win comfortably 24-10. Two wins & two losses at home, its not looking good.

The news comes that the first game at Cabrera is complete and Joe Pemberton has won the singles 21-9. Things are looking better.

The pairs team of Ian & Janice Brewster after being down 12-4 have rallied and are now in the lead 21-18 with one end to play. 4 shots on the last end making it 25-18 and that’s another one in the bag.

The triples team, Lene Steenstrup, Terry Rodgers & Norman Atkins never looked in trouble and lead all the way to win 16-12.

Is it possible that our fours team can pull off the almost impossible task of a white wash away from home. It’s never been done before.

The thirteenth end and we are one shot adrift 8-9.

Come-on lads we can do it!

A three, a two, & two ones and we are 15-9 up with one end to play.

We generously let Cabrera get two shots one the last end as a consolation prize. Our fours team of Dave Brannon, Peter Burton, Jim Anderson and Alan Beattie have completed the White wash. Well done everyone.

WE are the Division of Honour CHAMPIONS. 2006

Captain of Vice, Joe Pemberton